Roi et: "Saeng" Boonmee, Secretary-General of the Election Commission (EC), spearheaded a team from the central Election Commission to assess the readiness for the upcoming Roi Et Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) chairman election. Confident in the preparations, Saeng emphasized the deployment of mobile units to deter election fraud before the polls open on July 26. He urged over 1 million eligible voters to participate in the electoral process.
According to Thai News Agency, the inspection took place at the Roi Et Provincial Administrative Organization meeting room. Mr. Saeng, along with Acting Sub-Lieutenant Phaskorn Siriphakayaporn, Deputy Secretary-General of the Election Commission, and their team, received a briefing on the election's overall management. They were greeted by Mr. Chatchawal Benjasiriwong, Governor of Roi Et Province; Mr. Nantawit Naksaeng, Chairman of the Roi Et Provincial Election Commission; and Mrs. Phanwipa Sangkhatip, Director of the Roi Et Provincial Election Commission.
Mr. Saeng expressed confidence in the election's smooth execution, particularly regarding the distribution of election materials and ballots. He praised the coordination among the Election Commission, the governor, election officials, and voters, attributing any potential issues to weather conditions, such as rain, but assured that they would not impact the election.
The integrity and fairness of the election are being closely monitored by the Roi Et Provincial Election Commission Office, the Central Election Commission, and local police. Rapid response teams have been strategically deployed to detect any election fraud. Roi Et Province comprises 20 districts with 2,539 polling stations and 1,045,902 eligible voters. The Election Commission of Thailand has encouraged all eligible voters to cast their votes on July 26.
In an interview, Mr. Saeng reassured that the election preparations are on track and highlighted the measures in place to prevent fraud. He encouraged voters to participate in electing a PAO chairman who will effectively manage the budget and enhance the province's welfare.
Addressing the challenges of preventing election fraud, Mr. Saeng noted that local and national elections differ in complexity, with national elections being more intense due to the involvement of multiple political parties. Despite this, he remained confident in the capabilities of the Governor of Roi Et Province's team.
Regarding an ongoing complaint against a PAO mayoral candidate, Mr. Saeng explained that the case, related to actions taken before the 90-day deadline, is under review by the Election Commission. He stressed the importance of fairness and due process in determining any violations of the law.